Our Goddess Incarnate

Chapter 5: Succession and Disgrace

July (Mizami) 19

Mizarmonie and Valon stood outside the doors of her father's office. The hallway to her was empty, and his suite had been cleared out. That meant he didn't want anyone privy to this discussion. Valon could feel her anger coating the tether. Heavy and daunting. They had fought hard to push this conversation as long as they could. The summons at this time could only mean one thing. His Imperial Highness was no longer willing to abide by Mizamonie's wishes.

"It's fine, Miza. I stand with you 100% on your decision to push our marriage. It's fine. We can wait. He can't force the issue, not with your refusal. He would need the full Council and to convince the Clergy to go against you. I don't think they will be inclined to make an immediate decision considering Alex's lecture."

She breathed in deeply.

"This is a power play, and this is exactly why I refused to be married on The Council's timeline in the first place. But this push, this push isn't just about us. We tipped the scales, and Father needs to reclaim some semblance that he, as Emperor, is still the reigning King and that I do not have power yet. Since he was forced to name me his heir, he knows his legacy, the entire Hydolshi legacy, will be considered a blight once I have taken the throne." She felt a slight tinge of panic welling inside her.

"'The Adiamorphic Regime.' Yes, I've heard the whispers. After you were named the heir, rumors began to appear, claiming that Alivar had brought sin and evil to the House of Lea. But they are whispers. I currently have a team focused on investigating the source. Do you truly believe His Imperial Highness is affected enough by this to push this marriage? Now?"

Miza kept trying to convince everyone that just because their laws said that she was an adult in less than 24 hours didn't mean that she was prepared. She wasn't. She knew she wasn't ready to rise. She wasn't prepared for the responsibilities that had been thrust upon her. Being the Goddess Incarnate didn't make her life easier. It didn't make the job clearer. It just made her a target.

"I know that my father is a proud man who has not ever had to fear my opinions until recently. We knew this peace wouldn't last, V." Her voice came out in barely a whisper.

She raised her fist and knocked on the heavy door, then entered without waiting for permission.

~

"You do not have the right to refuse a royal decree. Just because Valon's parents are dead does not mean that alliance is void." Maximilian growled.

He still hadn't adjusted to dealing with Mizarmonie. Before the Spring Festival, he rarely interacted with his youngest daughter. He knew of her, but outside of official duties, he avoided his two youngest children at all costs. It had only been a handful of months since he had been forced to lead the occasional lesson to show her the ropes of being the Emperor. Unlike his son, Mark Anthony, the girl just soaked in the information and never stated her opinions on anything to him. He assumed that, for the most part, she was pretty docile. He had never dealt directly with her like this, and he was out of his depth.

"Highness, have I not proved my loyalty to the House of Lea? I beg your pardon, My Lord. I am intrinsically bound to your House with or without our marriage happening at this time." Valon attempted to reason with his emperor.

"Silence, boy. I did not give you blessing to speak." Maximilian scoffed. How he had come to hate this boy and his rise to power. The challenge he posed.

"Father! Mother fought for all Lestanian women to have this choice returned to them. You supported this, and then you took it back. Why, when I want to exercise my ability to choose whether or not to engage in these very adult choices, you don't care? It doesn't matter how often you try to avoid it, but I am your daughter. Even if you don't care that the Imperial House Council is trying to erase Mother's legacy, you can't ignore that I am your little girl. I'm thirteen, father. What do I know of being a wife or starting a whole family? I barely understand how to have Nest and you want me to be a wife?" The young girl raged at her seed bearer.

Her father glared at her, anger swirling in his light brown eyes. She stared back. She was enraged. It was palpable, and both men could feel its weight. That weight, the heavy presence of her innate power and divinity, made him fight this harder. She was his child. He was the emperor. No one was above him. No one dictated to him.

"You are a daughter of the Imperial House. You are my heir, whether I chose you or not. You will not continue to defy me and breed discontent in my nation." He snapped at her.

"Then let me go! I have suggested this dozens of times, " Miza said as she felt her anger settle to a simmering rage, recognizing that the back-and-forth would get them nowhere.

"The answer is no. I want this alliance sealed." Maximilian demanded.